Name
Its name is the Spanish word for "equator," referring to its geographic position.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Country
Ecuador
1.26° S, 78.19° W
Mean elevation of 1,117 m — the 27th highest of 168 countries.
mean elevation 1,117 m · 27th/168
CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · ranks computed across the countries in this atlas that carry the value
- Population
- 17,373,662
- Natural Earth population estimate.
- Area
- 283,561 km²
- Official total area (land + water) from the CIA World Factbook. Computed from the Natural Earth boundary: ≈ 254,529 km².
- Population density
- ≈ 68 / km²
- Population divided by the computed boundary area.
- ISO codes
- EC · ECU
- GDP (nominal)
- $124.68 billion
- Field “Economy → GDP (official exchange rate)” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP per capita (PPP)
- $13,900
- Field “Economy → Real GDP per capita → Real GDP per capita 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Ecuador 283,561 km²Ghana 238,533 km²
geometry: Natural Earth 1:50m · EPSG:6933 equal-area
Where Ecuador sits in the world
Each line is every country in this atlas that carries the value, ordered smallest to largest. The line down the middle is the world median; the mark on each line is this country.
- Median age28.2 years150th of 224 · median 32.6 years
- Life expectancy74.9 years131st of 224 · median 76.2 years
- Fertility rate2.17 children per woman84th of 225 · median 1.92 children per woman
- Population17,373,66266th of 235 · median 5,454,073
- Total area283,561 km²74th of 228 · median 83,736 km²
- Coastline2,237 km56th of 229 · median 402 km
Overview
Background
Before the Spanish conquest in 1533, what is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire. Quito, the traditional name for the area, became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563. In 1717, Quito became part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada.
The territories of the Viceroyalty—New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito—gained independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew to become an independent republic in 1830, the traditional name changed to the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. The period of civilian governance has been marked by political instability.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Climate
Along the coast and in the Amazonian jungle lowlands, Ecuador has a tropical climate, while higher inland elevations are cooler. Floods and periodic droughts are natural hazards.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
People and society
Mestizo people, meaning mixed Indigenous and White, live alongside Montubio, Indigenous, White, Afroecuadorian, Mulatto and Black communities. Spanish (Castilian) is official; indigenous languages include Quechua, while foreign and other languages include Ecuadorian sign language. Religious affiliations include Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jehovah's Witness and other faiths, while some people report none, do not know, or give no response. Protestants include Evangelical, Adventist and other Protestant affiliations.
Nearly half of the population is concentrated in the interior, with large concentrations also along the western coastal strip, while the eastern rainforests remain sparsely populated.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Government
A presidential republic governs Ecuador. Its legal system is based on the Chilean civil code with modifications, alongside traditional law in ethnic communities. The latest constitution was approved 20 October 2008. Ecuador gained independence from Spain on 24 May 1822, while its national holiday, Independence Day (independence of Quito), falls on 10 August (1809).
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Flag and symbols
Three horizontal bands mark the flag: yellow at the top and double-width, followed by blue and red, with the coat of arms at the center. Yellow stands for sunshine, grain, and mineral wealth; blue for the sky, sea, and rivers; and red for patriots' blood spilled in the struggle for freedom and justice. The Andean condor is the national symbol.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Key figures
CIA World Factbook
Economy
- GDP (nominal)
- $124.68 billion
- Field “Economy → GDP (official exchange rate)” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP (PPP)
- $252.73 billion
- Field “Economy → Real GDP (purchasing power parity) → Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP per capita (PPP)
- $13,900
- Field “Economy → Real GDP per capita → Real GDP per capita 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP growth
- -2%
- Field “Economy → Real GDP growth rate → Real GDP growth rate 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Inflation (consumer prices)
- 1.5%
- Field “Economy → Inflation rate (consumer prices) → Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Unemployment
- 4.8%
- Field “Economy → Unemployment rate → Unemployment rate 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Exports
- $38.47 billion
- Field “Economy → Exports → Exports 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Imports
- $33.97 billion
- Field “Economy → Imports → Imports 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
People
- Life expectancy
- 74.9 years
- Field “People and Society → Life expectancy at birth → total population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Median age
- 28.2 years
- Field “People and Society → Median age → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Birth rate
- 17.42 per 1,000
- Field “People and Society → Birth rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Death rate
- 7.12 per 1,000
- Field “People and Society → Death rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Fertility rate
- 2.17 children per woman
- Field “People and Society → Total fertility rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Population growth
- +0.91% a year
- Field “People and Society → Population growth rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Urban population
- 64.8%
- Field “People and Society → Urbanization → urban population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Literacy
- 96.3%
- Field “People and Society → Literacy → total population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Land
- Total area
- 283,561 km²Land 276,841 km² · Water 6,720 km²
- Field “Geography → Area → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Coastline
- 2,237 km
- Field “Geography → Coastline” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Land borders
- 2,237 km
- Field “Geography → Land boundaries → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Mean elevation
- 1,117 m
- Field “Geography → Elevation → mean elevation” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Values from the CIA World Factbook archive. Each carries the year it describes; open a year for the exact source field.
Connections
Natural geography 9
Natural Earth outlines · features with a Wikidata ID
Oceans 1
Gulfs 1
Island groups 3
Mountain ranges 4
Largest cities 17
Population · Natural Earth